From colonial days, until America became the United States, a variety of economic systems were used as a major source of revenue for American territory. One of these economic systems was based on agriculture and included a variety of contexts, such as plantations with hundreds of slaves who faced challenging circumstances or simply a farmer with fertile land. Since 1803, Henry Blair, an African-American, had lived on a large plantation he owned as a freed slave in Maryland. With the use of agricultural engineering, Blair was able to advance the economics of agriculture while being a person of color through his inventions, which eventually improved other enslaved African-American innovators in Blair's situation during the 1830s, a contentious …show more content…
Corn was a very profitable farm because of its great demand in European industrial countries. Due to the great demand for these goods, maintaining the process of planting, cultivating, and harvesting them became a significant burden for farmers and slaves laboring on a plantation or farm. As a laborer under such circumstances, Henry Blair came up with an invention that “ …increased farming efficiency by reducing the labor and time needed for production; his inventions also helped improve the livelihood of other farmers” (“Black History Month…”). Blair developed a machine that would drop seeds as it went and then cover them with soil, using a rake, in order to assist with the difficult work of planting corn in such big quantities. This especially facilitated planting, but over time it diminished the satisfaction of the agricultural employees' duties. The invention had a big impact since a better farm needed to be a more productive farm that could produce supplies quickly and securely; in order to make more money, which was all the changes that were implemented through this invention. Henry Blair is proven a leader because he could improve aspects of his job rather than just completing them. Furthermore, cotton was also a very high-demand product in early America. Cotton could be used to manufacture things like cloth which again many large industrial …show more content…
While persistent discrimination against persons of color had been an issue in the middle of the 1800s. Individuals who held the opinion that people of color shouldn't have access to government employment possibilities had been refuted by the divergent political positions on these issues. Henry Blair's inventions of the corn and cotton planters altered the course of opportunities for other people of color who had such aspirations: “...Patents could be granted to any man of any color, freed or enslaved. The law was changed in 1858…” (“1834-Detail…”). Many people of color's lives were touched by Henry Blair's legacy that people of color could make such large steps towards a better life; especially than that in slave states. African-Americans could rely on a healthier-paid government position with the aid of a government license, the patent. This development was important because it marked a turning point in giving people of color more opportunities in a country where there was so widespread prejudice against minorities that had people of color. Blair proved himself as a leader because he could influence people toward a more fulfilling life aside from employment discrimination. Moreover, Blair further enabled opportunity and reputation for people of color who aspired to be inventors because of the improvements he gave to
E. Jacob, he turned toward home in the fading evening light, relieved from finishing the ordeal. He carried three, fifty-pound bags of corn kernels. He had agreed, after a swift bargaining, to paying one hundred dollars for the corn after John had sold that fall’s harvest, either in cash or in crop. Arriving home, though, he slumped in his wagon’s seat as he realized the work left to do—the entire property needed to be sowed with seeds, and he owned several acres. Though he balked to undertake so Herculean a task, he was startled by the lateness of the season, and began planting that very evening.
Edward E. Baptist states, “The idea that the commodification and suffering and forced labor of African Americans is what made the United States powerful and rich is not an idea that people necessarily are happy to hear. Yet it is the truth”. In the beginning, the colonies profited off of the slaves that worked tobacco plantations along the eastern coast of the United States. As land was taken from the Native Americans, it was the productivity of the people who inhabited the land that brought wealth to the country, not the land itself. Leading up to the American Revolution, the United States increased cotton production, calling for more slaves, “By 1775, 500,000 of the thirteen colonies’ 2.5 million inhabitants were slaves, about the same as the number of slaves then alive in the British Caribbean colonies.
His work at the Highway Department paved the way for other black Americans to work for the state and let them obtain higher department
7 Civil Rights Leaders who Made an Impact on African-American History Photo Credit: History These civil rights leaders made a significant contribution to African-American history and culture. These activists helped shape the course of black history thanks to their passion and dedication to uplift the rights of the black community. Their names should be recognized and remembered by all black citizens.
Between 1865 and 1900 farmers, African Americans, and businesspeople were affected by conditions such as poverty, prejudice, and pride. Farmers were greatly affected by poverty from the unfair pricing of railroads (Proceedings). African Americans struggled with prejudice, as the lynch law came into play (Wells). And, (some) businesspeople dealt with the pride of thinking that their job and type of work was more important (Supreme Court Cases on Granger Laws). Life as a farmer in the later 1800’s was not easy.
After the War of 1812, there were many events occurring in the United States and the national unity and growth had changed since then. The creation of the first water-powered mill introduced a faster way of production. With this discovery, the north quickly created other factories that would implant this technology and created a chain of fast producing mills. However, the south had to keep up with the alarming amount of cotton being consumed by the mills to create cloth. To keep up, they bought huge amounts of slaves to work at plantations and ultimately they also invented the cotton gin which allowed the slaves to clean cotton in the least amount of time.
This allowed African Americans to have more opportunities. But, racism was still very much alive, and many black workers came across racist people while working on their new
Some of Laura’s experiences on a farm at the time may include, “Each day the Ingalls family rose at dawn to care for their cows, horses, and chickens. Laura’s mother cooked, scrubbed, and sewed; Laura’s father often worked in the wheat fields until after the sun had set. Calluses from hauling buckets of water and raking hay covered Laura’s hands” (Tarshis 14). Now, however, technology exists to make farm life significantly easier. Staples explains some of the technology used on his farm to Press, stating that, “my dad and uncles use computerized mapping tools to determine exactly how much can grow on certain parts of the farm and how much-or how little-herbicide needs to be sprayed” (Staples and Press 18).
From the time of the nation's founding until the Civil War, the institution of slavery played a central role in the economic development of the United States, and the wealth generated by the slave trade and the production of crops such as cotton and tobacco helped to fuel the growth of the American economy as a whole. However, the economic benefits of slavery came at a great cost, as the institution was built on the exploitation and oppression of millions of African Americans. One of the main ways in which slavery affected the American economy was by providing a cheap and abundant source of labor. During the era of slavery, enslaved African Americans were forced to work long hours for little or no pay, and this provided plantation owners with a cheap and reliable source of labor.
Nevertheless, it promoted creative thinking for a better America. We started getting exceptionally efficient. Eli Whitney, perfected a system of producing muskets with interchangeable parts. Prior to this, they had to make every part by and to every musket. Joseph Henry created the possibility to communicate over long-distances through the telegraph.
During the period from 1865 to 1900, American agriculture underwent significant changes due to the influence of technology, government policy, and economic conditions. A variety of factors went into this and influenced the way we live in America now. Technology played a key role in transforming American agriculture during this period. The invention of new machinery and tools, such as the steel plow and reaper, allowed farmers to increase their productivity and efficiency.
In the early 1900’s being a person of color or another race was known as being an open target for discrimination abuse and racism, especially if one worked in the agricultural business. Agricultural industries actively discriminated against farm workers who they themselves benefit from. These industries do not care about their employees' health
The invention allowed farmers to produce more food in a shorter amount time and it gave England a lot more food to eat. The changes in agriculture made it easier for England to Industrialize because it gave them more resources. Also, the farmers in England expanded on the Dutch agricultural experiments. Farmers mixed different soils to get a higher crop yield and others grew turnips to help restore exhausted soil. These new methods gave England a surplus of food and help trigger the Industrial Revolution.
In the Great Depression it was known for relieving debts of farmers and giving them money to keep their farms going. John Deere had a huge impact on the time of the WestWard Expansion. The invention of the steel plow came with almost no draw backs with it. It was an amazing invention which was the spark of an agricultural boom in America. It allowed for easier plowing of ground.
Through this people all across the country saw him as a well-educated man. His actions allowed for certain movements to be made by the government, including the Emancipation Proclamation. Once slavery had